Why is Ciri Special?

If you are a little bit confused as to why Ciri is so special, and why everyone is after her, then you are not alone. It’s a vital part of the plot, but it is also a confusing one, and includes understanding various aspects of the Witcher universe that have yet to be revealed in the TV show.

It also doesn’t help that the first book of The Witcher series is called “Blood of Elves”. If elven blood is so powerful, then why are their race being persecuted and trampled on throughout the continent?

Elder Blood is Not the Same Thing as Elven Blood

Elder Blood and elven blood are two very different things. While Elder Blood comes from elven blood, it is a very specific type of elven blood that is carried down only through one line. Although most thought that this specifically powerful magical gene died with the famous Lara Dorren, it in fact survived through the generations and came to its maximum potential within Ciri.

Who Created Elder Blood?

Ancient elves created Elder Blood, a mutated gene, with the hopes of creating a “child of elder blood” capable of opening up the portal between worlds.

What does The Elder Blood Have to do with Ithlinne’s Prophecy?

The most commonly quoted prophecy in the Witcher texts is the prophecy fro Ithlinne that deals with the end of the world. In the prophecy, Ithlinne says that a child of Elder Blood will save the world from the great frost. Here’s the prophecy below:

Verily I say unto you, the era of the sword and axe is nigh, the era of the wolf’s blizzard. The Time of the White Chill and the White Light is nigh, the Time of Madness and the Time of Contempt: Tedd Deireádh, the Time of End. The world will die amidst frost and be reborn with the new sun. It will be reborn of Elder Blood, of Hen Ichaer, of the seed that has been sown. A seed which will not sprout but burst into flame.
Ess’tuath esse! Thus it shall be! Watch for the signs! What signs these shall be, I say unto you: first the earth will flow with the blood of Aen Seidhe, the Blood of Elves…

Is the Prophecy True or Not?

Well, it’s hard to say. It’s true that those with Elder Blood are incredibly powerful. However, it’s never revealed in the books whether or not the great frost happens. It seems to be happening. The continent seems to be cooling. But it never full on happens.

The video game, however, is a little more direct about the white frost. We actually seen Ciri enter into it, and defeat it.

Another interpretation of the prophecy is that Ciri’s ability to save the world comes through her ability to teleport between worlds. Much like what Elon Musk wants to do through colonizing Mars, by being able to open up portals between worlds, Ciri can transport life from the continent into a different world once the great frost comes.

Ciri’s Child is the Supposed Child of Prophecy

According to Vilgefortz, however, Ciri is not actually the fabled child of elder blood. As if Ciri’s powers weren’t scary enough, supposedly her child will be the one to save the world form the white frost. Vilgefortz convinces Emhir Var Emrys that he is the person mentioned in the prophecy and that he must have a child with his own daughter, Ciri, in order to save the world from the white frost.

Of course, in The Witcher 3 video game, that’s not the case: Ciri is definitely the Child of Elder Blood prophesied about. Of course, the video game is not technically cannon, so I guess it’s up to you to decide whether or not Ciri is the child of prophecy or not.

Why Does the Wild Hunt Want Ciri?

Again, this motivation differs between the books and the games. In the books, the Wild Hunt wants Ciri for a similar reason Nilfgaard does: they want her for the purpose of breeding. By having children with Ciri, the Wild Hunt and their subset race of elves can breed Elder Blood and the ability to open up portals between worlds back into their race.

In the games, however, it’s different. They want her simply for her power to defeat the white frost and save their home world while granting them the ability to invade other worlds.

Okay, hopefully that wasn’t too confusing and you now understand why Ciri is so special and why everybody seems to want her!

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